15/04/2010 (All Africa), Lagos — Fresh oil from palm fruit is traditionally used in eating roasted yam or plantain in Nigeria especially in farms after a hard day's job.

The nutritional and health benefits of palm oil are staggering. It is 15 times richer in beta-carotene than carrot! Says a Public health physician Dr. (Mrs) Rose Eze at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi- Araba, Lagos.

'Beta-carotenes are very important form of vitamin A that help protect our body against many diseases like Alzheimer dementia, heart attack, cataracts, arthritis and cancers, by acting as anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants acts by protecting cells against dangerous chemicals released by our cells called free radicals; much the same way that anti rust protects metallic objects from rusting.' She stated.

Cooking palm fruit oil remains the largest source of tocotrienols - a form of vitamin E known to man. This helps in protecting the body against diseases like cancer, blood disorders,and help maintains good skin and fertility.

It is also very rich in the form of vitamin A that helps in ensuring good vision and preventing night blindness and many other types of eye problems, she emphasized.

This oil contains High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), the good type of fat that helps protect against cholesterol.

There is nevertheless negative publicity against palm oil. It is said to contain too much saturated fatty acid that is implicated in increasing the chances of heart diseases. However there is no evidence to prove this fact at all.

Research has shown that red palm oil does not increase the risk of heart problems in individuals that have normal heart and good diet / habits. It in fact it protects the heart from many diseases, as well as the digestive tract.